Motorising the Z axis on a Chester Champion 20V Mill

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Due to progressive spinal problems and paralysis developing on my right side I am finding it more and more difficult to raise and lower the head on my Chester Champion 20 V Mill, I wonder has anyone motorised this function and if so would they be able to share their experience and detail the method and components used. Thankful for any help and information.

Dave

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Ditto… have progressive spinal arthritis & have ,fleetingly, considered same for the future… Drs prognosis… age & keep taking the tablets… I have seen some who have rigged up a pulley system to counterbalance the head, also there are machines with gas struts that do the same, also seen somewhere that a right angle adaptor with corresponding  motor / bevel gears fitted so somebody has done it…?

​George.

Edited By mechman48 on 20/08/2017 11:02:16

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Dave and George, put power feed in the search for box, and click go, you'll find two pages of stuff to interest you.

I use a wiper motor, well worth it.

Ian S C

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Thanks George , my sympathies I know how you feel. A gas strut would certainly help with my problems, or perhaps a pulley system, hopefully someone in our engineering fraternity will have some proven ideas to share with us.

Dave

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Thanks Ian your posting came in while replying to George, will research "power feed" and see what surfaces.

Dave

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Posted by Ian S C on 20/08/2017 11:03:13:

Dave and George, put power feed in the search for box, and click go, you'll find two pages of stuff to interest you.

I use a wiper motor, well worth it.

Ian S C

Thanks Ian, will peruse later.

[geoff adamsParticipant @geoffadams14047]

Hi dave

I have a warco vm16 converted to cnc (not done by me) that is the same as the champion I have the vm20 manual mill if you look at the photos you can see they have a stepper motor fitted directly to the shaft were the handle was fitted

I am sure you could fit a motor of some sort to power the z up and down and use the fine feed by hand to give you the final adjustment

II no nothing about electronics but am sure someone on this forum will help with the control

hope this helps Geoff

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Again not your mill but i did the same on mine just a 24v dc parvalux geared motor coupled to where the handle was and a switch to bring the head either up or down

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Geoff, many thanks for the photo of your conversion, your mill does look identical to mine, the stepper motor looks very sturdily mounted and could be a way forward.

Ian, your conversion looks very practical and simple, again another avenue to explore.

Many thanks to you both. Dave

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